Archive | January, 2012

Moving Latin America Pictures

25 Jan
A weekend in Miami…but for working fun, not the sunshine and beaches.  The weekend began a two-week short term trip for four videography teams helping our Latin America/Caribbean division develop short videos to explain and promote the missions work in our area.  These gifted videographers/producers bring strong backgrounds in professional video production along with their willingness to serve the Kingdom with what they’ve been given.  One week of shooting footage in Costa Rica, Haiti, Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City will be followed by a week in Costa Rica in intense production sessions.  By the end of the week we hope to have four country specific videos and one overview of the ministry in Latin America/Caribbean.  

One of our key partners in Costa Rica, Eduardo Castillo and I spent the day wandering all over our area of San Jose while the videographers shot their film and did their artistic magic.  We got pretty good at following odd-sounding directions…and lugging heavy equipment.
Stay tuned for links to what we believe will be some wonderful videos.

Counting the Cost

23 Jan


Settling back into Latin America has been relatively easy-– crystal clear skies, warm breezes, and Costa Rican neighbors greeting us with huge smiles, running to their gates as we stroll the neighborhood.

Going through items we left behind, packed and carefully stored, with dehumidifier packets and all, has been hard. You see, a leak during rainy season allowed some water to reach our things, which went undetected…my reference books completely damaged, and my medical equipment partially so…a cost counted, as those books and my non-waterpoof doppler wand need replacement.

The cost of time, thoroughly cleaning loads of laundry, hanging it in the sun, only to find another wash is necessary, leading to the cost of electricity and water….

But the hardest hit to my heart thus far? The process of sorting and discarding handcrafted ornaments lovingly made by my four precious children in young childhood, as these were not plastic or metal, they were paper,felt, fabric or plaster ornaments no amount of water, detergent or sun could heal. Thankfully, only about ten were destined to the bags of trash, many were able to be restored and will still grace our Christmas tree next year.

All of us face costs in following Christ. As I sorted last night, and tears fell down my face, I was tempted to blame this temporary setback on this lifestyle that God has led us to. But then I remembered that those in New Orleans post-Katrina had mountains of ruined things and they were living where they always had.

Using our time, money, talents and whole being in investing in others, rather than the temporary trappings of this world are what bring my family contentment. And living life serving others has brought great joy and peace. Thank you to those who allow us to have one foot in each continent. For those who give sacrificially and who pray for us often. I felt those prayers last night when I so desperately needed them.